OWNER: Fianerra - 2017 Fiat 500 Abarth - Nero

**problem_417** · 07-25-2018, 04:22 PM

That took awhile. Anyway, work has all been completed and the system BUMPS! The remote bass control knob is a MUST!

Both the a pillars and the sub enclosure were done by Absolutely Creative Customs in Boulder, CO. They did a fantastic job! Here’s a couple of photos:

It’s a pretty stealth install that I’m very happy with. If I were to do anything else it would be to replace the head unit.

Next up... E+D!

**problem_417** · 11-08-2018, 01:17 AM

Well, I lied. E+D wasn't next... a new head unit was!

The stock uConnect head unit just wasn't doing it. The biggest issue to me was that bluetooth would take forever to sync up with my phone on when starting up the car and I'd hear static because the head unit defaults to the radio source. I decided to go with Kenwood Excelon DDX9905S, but decided against doing this myself and went with the prior shop - Absolutely Creative Customs in Boulder. I'm quite pleased with their work and it looks AWESOME!

Here's a couple of photos:

Reference OEM radio:

What a box!

Driver's vantage:

I'll have to take pics with better lighting, but definitely a HUGE improvement over the stock system both in looks and sound.

Next up... E+D, hopefully =D

**problem_417** · 11-23-2018, 11:21 AM

The head unit I purchased, Kenwood Excelon DDX9905S, is advertised as having 5V preouts. As such, I would think that at the full volume level (40 for this head unit), one RCA (eg, front left) would output 5V. Below are the results for anyone else bored enough to know:

Volume	DMM. Vac (Fluke 83)
	0.0001
1	0.0004
2	0.0007
3	0.001
4	0.0016
5	0.0025
6	0.0031
7	0.004
8	0.0049
9	0.0062
10	0.0078
11	0.0097
12	0.0122
13	0.0153
14	0.0194
15	0.0241
16	0.0306
17	0.0381
18	0.0481
19	0.0605
20	0.0761
21	0.0955
22	0.1200
23	0.1511
24	0.1896
25	0.2405
26	0.3027
27	0.3805
28	0.479
29	0.602
30	0.758
31	0.849
32	0.952
33	1.067
34	1.197
35	1.340
36	1.502
37	1.685
38	1.889
39	2.119
40	2.376

I did the same test on the front right RCA with similar results. It seems like they are advertising the sum of the channels (4.8V) vs each individual RCA jack. It still sounds good. It is just disappointing to see the lower preprint voltage.